Safety device for automatic screw machines



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,314

' O. A. RUSSELL SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINES Filed July 30. 1926 5 SheetsSheet l Svwemtoz 0/1 fi'usseZZ 95 71119 Qua/m O. A.- RUSSELL SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINES Nov. 20, 1928. v

Filed July 30, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 20, 1928.

O. A. RUSSELL SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINES 5 sheets-sheet anvemboz O19, Fasslz Filed July Patented Nov. 20, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OLIVER A. RUSSELL, OF wnvnson, vnslvroim, Assie liioft lit), agitate Asian COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or 01110..

SAFETY DEVICE its AUToMA'rI-osormw rrAo'IIIn Es,

Application filed Jui so,

This invention has for its object the provision of safety mechanism for use with power drlven and manually operated shafts,

in connection with which a clutch is used.

fortransmitting power to the shaft, and particularly to those shafts used in automatic screw machines such as the Gridley, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a safety mechanism which will prevent the attachment of a hand crank to the shaft when the clutch is engaged andwhich will also prevent the engagement of the clutch either by hand or power when the v crank is on the shaft, and which safety mechanismis slmp'le 1n construction, qu ckly and easily operated and positive in its action and by means of which the operation of the clutch either by hand or by power when the crank handle is on the si prevented while placing of the crank upon the shaft when the clutch is engaged is like-' wise prevented. n

In automatic screw machines, a power operated clutch driven shaft is used and this is rotated at high speed, the clutch of which is thrown into operative and inoperative positions automatically and .the'operation of this clutch is also manually controlled. Y Frequently it is necessary to turn over the mechanism of the machine by rotating this shaft through the medium of a crank handle placed on the end thereof and should the clutch at this time be accidently throwninto operativeposition, serious injury not infrequently results to the operator.

The operator at the time of placing the hand crank upon the'shaft must exercise care that the clutch is not engaged since if it is the crank may be caused to slide from the shaft or be pulled from the operators hand to the injury of the arm or person of the operator.

Therefore it is highly desirable to provide a fool-proof safety mechanism which will prevent the attachment of the crank handle to the shaft while the clutch isengaged and which will also prevent the engagement of the clutch when the crank. handle is on the shaft.

In thedrawings accompanyingand form ing a part of this specification, F ig. 1 illustrates one end of a Gridley multiple spindle automatic screw machine having this imaft is positively I a cam. 6 on the ,cam' shaft 7.

i926. seen-m. 125,862.

proved safety mechanism, applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a sid'eview thereof Fig.3 is a view illustrating the power driven clutch shaft and its safety mechanism applied thereto, the crank handle being in position and the clutch disengaged Fig. 4 i's'a'l'eft hand end View of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a right hand end view of Fig. illustrat ng the safety mechanism in position to prevent the attachment of the hand crank; Fig. 6 is asimilar view to'that shown in Fig; 5 illustrating the safety mechanism in position to-permit the attachment of the hand crank; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the right hand end of the machine as shown in Fig. 3 with the clutch engaged and Figs. 8 and 9 are detail-views of a part of the safety mechanism cooperating with the clutch. v

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views Before explaining in detail the present improvementand modeof o eranen thereof, I. desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which a're illtistrated' in the accompanyingdrawings, sincethe invention is capable of other embod'inients, and that the -phraseo'lo'gy which I employ is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 1

In automatic" screw machines, particularly the multiple spindle Variety such as the Gridley a power operated shaft is used which is drivenfrom acam shaft and this shaft is located transversely of the machine and is used to transmit power to certain of the mechanisms. This shaft 2, se'ejFig. 3, is provided at one end with a clutch3,'one' .memlier of which is fixed to the shaft while the other member is loose thereon and is connected with a suitable source of power, this clutch member being thrown into and out of engagement with the fixed clutch member thereby to rotate the shaft'Qby'm'ea'ns of a suit-able yoke 4, which is automatically controlled by a, lever -5 operated by means of I The yoke of this rotatable clutch member is also usually operated by ah'and lever likewise connected with theyokeso thatatcert'ain times the clutch may be thrown into and out 'of operative position by the-hand lever while duringthe normal operation of the machine'it is automatically operated from the cam shaft. The opposite end of the shaft as 9 1s in pos tion to receive a crank handle lO which 1S usually used to turn over the machine at certain times particularly when tooling or re oairs are'necessary, it being intended that the crank handle be used only when the clutch is in its inoperative position. To prevent the attachment of this crank handle upon the shaft except when the clutch is in of'and bymeans of which the operator is insured against injury at all times.

In the preferred form shown there is attached to the base of thQHlZLClIIDE. 11 a pair of brackets 12 and13 bolted one to each side at one end a lever 17, the'upper end of which- 15 provided with a recess 18 adapted to par:

thereof, these brackets being so made that they may be applied to machines already on the market. Carried in bearings 14 and 15 of these brackets is a rock shaft 16 having tially encircle the shaft 2 at that end thereof to which the crank handle 10 is applied and when this lever is in engagement with the,

shaft 2 it will be obvious that it is impossible to attach the hub 10? of the crank handle upon the shaft but when the lever is-thrown away from the shaft by hand the crank handle can be readily attached to the shaft 2. r

At the opposite .end of the rock shaft 16 is secured a lever 19 whichis shifted back and forth by the manipulation of the lever 17. This lever 19 is provided with a pin 20 which is in position to shift a block 28 and sliding pin 27 for connecting and disconnecting the clutch yoke 1 in the manner hereinafter described. This pin 20 in different positions thereof projects into either one of two openings 22 and 23 of a swinging lever2 isee Fig.

. 8 to which a rod 25 is secured and to this rod the handle bar 8 is pivoted, this handle bar being guided by a slot and bolt 8 8 and having a handle 8' by means of which the rod 25 and thelever 24 may be swung. back and forth by hand. This lever 24 is mounted on and fixed to a stud 26 located adjacent to and under the clutch end of the shaft 2. This stud 26 also carries the clutch opera-ting yoke i which however is free to swing on this-stud being loosely mounted thereon. The stud also carries the cam operated lever 5 whichis fixed to the stud so that the shifting thereof will shiftthe lever 24L. Mounted in this lefver 24 is the sliding pin 27 carrying the slotted or crotched block 28 movable therewith." One end of this pin is in position to pass through the yoke 4 so that when the pin 27 y is in engagement with the yoke, the yoke will be connected, although normally free, with the lever 24 and therefore shiftable therewith to swing with the stud 26 when the same is shifted either by the cam lever 5 or by the hand operated bar 8, since the cam operated lever 5 and the lever 2st are'both fixed to the stud. The lever 17 is so positioned on the shaft 16 relatively to the lever 19 that when the lever 17 is thrown across the end of the shaft 2 to prevent the attachment of the crank handle thereto, the lever 19 through the medium of its pin 20 will shift the sliding block 28 and thereby the sliding pin 27 into position to engage the clutch yoke so that the yoke will be connected with the lever'24: and consequently when this lever is shifted either by the hand bar 8 or the cam operated lever 5, the clutch will be thrown into operative position, whereupon the pin 20 of the lever 19 will project into the opening 23 of the lever 24 andlock the partsin this operative position, at which time of course the crank handle 10 cannot be attached to the shaft 2: I

When however itis desired to attach the crank handle to the shaft 2, the lever 17 is shifted away from the shaft 2 and thus thru the medium of the lever 19 and its pin 20 the block 28 and thereby the sliding pin 2? is,

shifted out of engagement with the clutch yoke, thereby making it impossible for the cam lever 5 to impart any movement to the clutch member, assuming of course that the clutch has been previouslydisconnected by the hand bar 8.

Thus, when the operator throws the lever 17 away from the crank end of the shaft 2 in order to attach the crank 10, the sliding pin 27 is withdrawn from the clutch operating yoke 4 by means of the pin 20 carried by the lever or arm 19 cooperating with the block 28, so that the clutch cannot be subsequently thrown into operative posit-ion either by power or by hand while the crank handle is on the end of the shaft 2,

In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3 in which the crank handle 10 is on the end of the shaft 2 and theclutch is in its inoperas tive position, Figs. 3 and 6, should the lever 24 fixed to the stud 26 be shifted through the medium of the hand operated bar 8 or the lever 5 a for the purpose of connecting the clutch, the opening 22 thereof will receive the pin 20 of the lever 19 seeFig. 8, and thus lock the pin 27 in its disconnecting position with the yoke hand since this pin 27 constitutes the positive connection between the yoke which loosely swings on the stud 26 and the lever 24 which is fixed to that stud, it

and this shifts: the lever: 19* anditspin 20 thereby shifting the "block '28 and sliding pin 27 into engagement'with the yoke i; so'that the clutch can then be thrown into operative position either byv means ofthe hand bar 8- or' the cam operated arm 5; At this time the pin 20'of the arm 19 will-project into the opening 23 andthus'loclrthe block- 28 and its sliding pin 27 in the" clutch operating position. Thus, itwillbeseen that when the crank handle is removed and the lever 17-' isshi-ft'ed towardthe shaft 2 and'cov'ers this shaft, see Fig. 5 the sliding-pin 27 is'carri'edinto the yoke a by means of the lever 19 and its' -pin 20 and so locks the yoke 4"to the stud26, at which time the pin 20of' the lever 19' in position to project into the opening 23 f the lever 24 when the clutch is thrown intooperative position by, the hand bar 8 or thecam operated lever 5 therebylockin'gtheyoke thru the medium of; the stud26 with the lever 24 and'at this time the hub ofthe handlelO cannot be attached to the shaft2. \Vlienhowever it is desired to attach the handle lOtoth'e shaft 2, the leve'r17iisthrown away fromthe shaft 2, see Fig. 6' whereupon the arm 19 is simultaneously shifted and thruthe'medium of the pin 20lshift's the b=lock28 and thereby the sliding pin 27 outote'ngagementwith-the clutch shifter 4t,thereby. disconnecting it'from thestud'26 and'the lever 2a so that: the further operation of the clutch bythe' handbar 8 or 'cam lever 5' isfprevented the parts being lockedinqthis position by the projection. ofzthe pini20 at this time into thexhole 22 0f lever 24 i when the lever'24 is thrown towardjt-he lever 19 by the attempted operation of the clutch either thru the cam lever 5'or theliand bar 8,

thus, preventing any possible injury "to' the operator while the crank handle is upon the Shaft.

c Thenlthe crank handle is removedand' the I lever 17 thrown into 'engagement with the sh aft-2 thereby slidingthe pin 27'into'engagement with the yoke Lathe shifting of the clutch members into engagement throws the lever 24:,into position so that the pin 20'will project into the opening 23 thereby locking 5 the sliding pin 27 and yoke together and this also locks the lever- 17 into position over the shaft 2Vand preventsthe attachment of the crank handle to-the shaft 2 while the clutch members are in operative position, so th'atthis safety mechanism "not only; locks the clutch yokein operative position butalso locks the lever 17 over the shaft 2 as well as looking the clutch in its inoperative;position, so that when the lever 17"is locked-over the shaft 2 the shifting of this-lever is prevented to attach the crankhandle during thetimethe clutch isiin engagement. 7 I

Thus, it will'be observed that in this safety mechanism the connecting means between the yoke and the lever 24 by means ofwhich the yoke is operated and wlriclrconnecting means consists of the sliding p in'27 'and its block28; is locked in either its-yoked'ocking or yoke-unlocking position and when inits yoke-lockin position the'crank handle ltlcannot be at; ta'ch'ed'to the sh aft2sincethe lever arm 17 is also locked over the sha'ftf2. heir however the-crank handle has been removed from the shaft 2,- should theoperator move the hand lever8 in 'a-n'attem-ptto-throw the clutch nem bers into engagement this-will notlbe effective since the only result will be to swing, the lever 24-and the stud'26'without swinging the yoke- 1 wh'iolris loosely mounted on that stud. Thereforein. order to shift the yoke 4 a is nec- '.essary to connect-3 this yoke withthe lever 21 by means-ofthe sliding pin 27- andtodo this itis necessaryfor the operatorto throwthc lever 17 into engagement with the shaft 2 which of course requires the removalof' the crank and thereby prevents the re attachment the lever 17 away from the'shaft- 2 and in another position holdsthe lever 17in engage 'ment' withthe-shaft2, having-a corresponding action upon the lever 19; v

' It is to be understood that bydescrib-ing" in detail herein any particularform; structiire or arrangemenhit is not intended to limit the invention beyondthe terms-of the several claimsor the requirements of'theprior-art.

Having thus--e'X plainedthe nature of my said invention and described-a way of constructing a'nd-nsingthe same; although with-- out'attemptin'g 'to'set'forth all-of the forms of-it-s use, Iiclaimz 1. In amachine having a manually oper- 'inwhich it may be made, or alliof themodes a-tive and power driven shaft and clutch,

mechanism for transmitting power to the shaft, positivelyacting means shiftable into position to cooperatewith said shaft for preventingtheattachment of" manuallyoperating means totheshaft when the clutch is engaged and having connection-with the clutch mechanism for preventing the operation thereof when the manual means is attached and"independentmeans for operating said clutclr mechanism.

2. In a machine havinga-manually operav tive andg'powei"driven shaft5-a c1utch for transmitting power tothe shaft andcl'utch shifting means, positivelyilClllIlg means shiftable into position to cooperate: with said shaft-" for; preventingtheattachment of ill manually operating. means to the shaft when the clutch is engaged and having connection with the clutch shifting means for preventing means is attached, and independent means for operating said clutch shifting means.

4:. In a machine having a'manually operative and power driven shaft, a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and clutch shifting means, positively acting means shiftable into position to cooperate with said shaft for preventing the attachment of manu ally operating means to the shaft when the clutch is engaged and having connection with the clutch shifting means thereby to permit the clutch to be operated, independent means for operating said clutch shifting means, and means for locking said preventing means in position.

In a machine having a manually operative and power driven shaft, a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and. clutch shifting means, positively acting means shiftable into position to cooperate with said shaft having connection with the clutch shifting means for preventing the engagement of the clutch when manually operating means is attached to the shaft and for preventing the attachment of the manually operating means to the shaft when the clutch is engaged, and independent means for operating said clutch shifting means. I v

6. In a machine having a manually operative and power driven shaft, a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and clutch shifting means, means having connection with the clutch shifting means for preventmg the engagement of the clutch when manually operating means is attached to the shaft and for preventing the attachment of the manually operating means to the shaft when the clutch is engaged, independent means for operating said clutch shifting means, and means for locking the clutch in its inoperative position.

7 In a machine having a manually operative and power {driven shaft, a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and clutch shifting means, means having connection with the clutch shifting means for prevent- 7 ing the engagement of the clutch when manually operating means is attached to the shaft and for preventing the attachment-of the manually operating means to the shaft when with the clutch shifting means for preventing the engagement of the clutch when manunally operating means is attached to the shaft and for preventing the attachment of themanually operating means to the shaft when the clutch is engaged, independent means for operating said clutch shifting means, means forlocking the preventing 'means in position, and means for locking the clutch in its inoperative position when the manually operative means is attached to the shaft.

9. In a machine having a manually operative and power driven shaft, a clutch for transmittingpower to the shaft and clutch shifting means, means for preventing the engagement of the clutch when manually operating means is attached to the shaft and comprising means shiftable to cooperate with the power shaft and having connection with the clutch mechanism, and independent means for operating said clutch shifting means.

10. In a machine having a manually operative and power driven shaft, a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and clutch shifting means, means for preventing the engagement of the clutch when manually operating means is attached to the shaft and compri ing means shiftahle to cooperate with the power shaft and having connection with the clutch mechanism, independent means for operating said clutch shifting means, and means for locking the clutch in its inoperative position.

11. In a machine having a manually and power driven. shaft and a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of a clutch operating oke, a stud loosely mounted in said yoke, a lever fixed to said stud, means for operating said lever, means for positively connecting said lever with the yoke, and meansfor shifting said positive connecting means and including a member effective to engage the shaft and prevent the attachment of the manually operated means thereto.

12. In a machine having a manually and power driven shaft and a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of a clutch operating yoke, a stud loosely mounted in said yoke, alever fixed to said stud, means for operating said lever, means for positively connecting said lever with the yoke, means for shifting said positive connecting means and including a member effective to engage the shaft and prevent the attachment of the manually operated means Inn llll

ll 'i thereto, and meansfor locking the yoke connecting means n tsyoke engaging and dis,-

engaging positions;

13. In a'machine v driven shaftand a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of a yoke cooperating with the clutch, a stud loosely mounted'in'the yoke, aflever fixed to said stud, manual and automatic: means for shifting tlielev'er, asliding pin carried by said lever and effective to connect and disconnect the yoke with said lever, a rock shaft, a lever carried at one end thereof and having means for shifting said sliding pin, a lever connected to the other end of said shaft and operative to engage the power driven shaft to prevent the attachment of a handle thereto, and means carried by a pair of said levers for locking the connecting pin in different positions.

A. In a machine having a hand and power driven shaft, and a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of a yoke cooperating with the clutch, a stud loosely mounted in the yoke, a lever fixed to said stud, manual and automatic means for shifting the lever, a sliding pin carried by said lever and efiective to connect and disconnect the yoke with said lever, a rock shaft, a lever carried at one 'end thereof and having means for shifting said sliding pin, a lever connect ed to the other end'of said shaft and operative to engage the power driven shaft to prevent the attachment of a handlethereto, and means carried by a pair of said levers for locking the connecting pin in different positions, and comprising a pin carried by one lever, a pair of openings carried by the other, and a block carriedby said sliding pin.

15. In a machine having a manually and power driven shaft and a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of a rock shaft, a lever connected therewith and shiftable' in position to engage said power shaft thereby to prevent the attachment of a handle thereto, a lever also connected to said rock shaft, a lever, asliding pin carried by said last lever, a block fixed to said sliding pin, a yoke connected with the clutch and adapted to receive said sliding pin for connecting the yoke with the sliding pin lever, and means carried by one lever and a pair of openings carried by. the other and cooperating to lock the sliding pin in either of its shifted positions.

16. A safety mechanism erated and power driven shaft having a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and a yoke for operating said clutch, comprising arock shaft, a pair of levers carried thereby one shift-able into position to engage the power shaft and prevent the'attaehment .of a handle thereto, a manually and automatically operative lever, means for connecting said lever with the yoke, and means carried having ahand and power for a manually opby the other rock shaft lever for shifting said connecting means. 17. A safety mechanismfor a manually operatedjjand power driven shaft having a clutch for transmittin power to the shaft anda yoke for operating said clutch," comprising a rock shaft, a pair of levers carried thereby one shi'ftable intoposition to engage the power shaft, and prevent-the attachment ofa handle thereto, a imanually and automatically operative lever, means for connecting said lever with the yoke, means carried by the other rock shaft lever for shifting said connecting means, and means for locking said connecting means in either, of its shifted positions.

18. A safety mechanism for a manually operated and power driven shaft having a clutch for transmitting power to the shaft and a yoke for operating said clutch comprising a rock shaft, a pair of levers carried there by, one shiftable into position to engage the power shaft and prevent theattachment of a handle thereto, a manually and automatically operative lever, means for connecting said lever with the yoke, means carried by the other rock shaft lever for shifting said connecting means, and means for locking said connecting means in either of its shifted po sitions, and comprising a pin, a block, and a pair of openings. i v

19. In a machine havinga manually and power driven shaft and. a clutch and its shifting meansifor transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of means for-prevent ing the attachment of the manually operated means to the shaft when the clutch is in its operative position, means for preventing the operation of the clutch when the manually operated means is attached to the shaft,

means for locking the first preventing means in pos1t1on, means for locking'the second preventing means, and means for connecting the shifting means to the preventing means,

20. In a machine having a hand and power driven shaft, a clutch and its shifting means for transmitting power to the shaft, the combination of a rock shaft, a lever carried thereby and having means for'covering one part of the power shaft to prevent the attachment of a crank handle ther'eto,a lever also carried by said rock shaft, a lever swinging transversely of said last lever, a sliding pin car ried by'saidswinging lever for connecting the elutch shifting means therewith, means car ried by said swinging lever and by said sec ond lever for sliding the pin and for also lookingit in different positions on the swinging of saidswinging lever. r g V 21. In a machine having a'hand and power driven shaft, a clutch and its shifting means for transmitting power to the shaft, the combinati on of a rock shaft, a lever carried thereby and having means for covering one part of the power shaft to prevent the attachment of a crank handle thereto, a lever also carried by said rock shaft, a lever swinging transversely of said last lever, a sliding pin carried by said swinging lever for connecting the clutch shifting means therewith, means carried by said swinginglever and by said second lever for sliding the pin and for also locking it in different positions on theswinging of said swinging lever, and Comprising a recessed block carried by said sliding pin, 10 a pair of openings carried by the swinging lever and a pincarriedby the second lever for engaging said block and also projecting into said openings on the swinging of said swinging lever.-

Signed at Windsor, Vermont, this 23rd day of July, 1926.

OLIVER A. RUSSELL. 

